Replacement cover and its application to an outdoor chair

ABSTRACT

An outdoor aluminum frame chair is provided with a replacement cover which can be easily installed without taking apart the chair frame. The replacement cover is made by winding vinyl tubing on a temporary jig of oblong shape corresponding to the size of the chair frame. Upon completion of the winding, the top and bottom portions of the vinyl tubing are heat-sealed together in two places by a semicontinuous heat seal extending at right angles to the direction of the winding. Then the cover is removed from the jig and is applied to the frame of a chair. Looped strands of the edges of the cover are alternately placed above and below the frame tubes of the chair and wirelike rods of various types are used to attach these strands to the two opposed frame tubes.

United States Patent Primary Examinen-David .l. Williamowsky Assistant Examiner-Philip Ci Kannan Att0rney-'Richards & Geier ABSTRACT: An outdoor aluminum frame chair is provided with a replacement cover which can be easily installed without taking apart the chair frame. The replacement cover is made by winding vinyl tubing on a temporary jig of oblong shape corresponding to the size of the chair frame. Upon completion of the winding, the top and bottom portions of the vinyl tubing are heat-sealed together in two places by a semicontinuous heat seal extending at right angles to the direction of the winding. Then the cover is removed from the jig and is applied to the frame of a chair. Looped strands of the edges of the cover are alternately placed above and below the frame tubes of the chair and wirelike rods of various types are used to attach these strands to the two opposed frame tubes.

PATENTEU JUL 6 I8?! SHEET 1 OF 2 FIG] INVENTOR E. Du DL 05kg BY warda'r ATTORNEYS REPLACEMENT COVER AND ITS APPLICATION TO AN OUTDOOR CHAIR This invention relates to a replacement cover for an outdoor chair of the type providedwith an aluminum frame.

These chairs are now made with a vinyl tubing which is wrapped around the chair frame and then heat sealed. Usually the tubing is wrapped and sealed around the back frame portion and the seat frame portion of the chair before the chair is assembled.

The drawback of these chairs is that, once its covering wears out, it is extremely difficult to replace it. In order to provide-a new heat -sealed vinyl tube covering for the chair, its frame must be completely disassembled. Obviously, such disassembly is most difficult if not impossible for an average person. To apply a covering of a different type of fabric or material also requires the use of special tools, such as electric drills, and complicated procedures which can be carried out only by a skilled technician.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate these drawbacks and to provide a replacement cover for outdoor chairs consisting of a vinyl tubing heat-sealed cover unit which can be applied to a chair in a quick and simple manner, without the necessity of using special skills, without the necessity of dismantling the chair frame and without having to carry out other complicated procedures.

Other objects will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

In the accomplishment of the objectives of the present invention, it was found desirable to start by winding vinyl tubing upon a collapsible temporary jig of oblong shape having substantially the size of the chair requiring a replacement cover. About 20 windings of vinyl tubing of average size are usually sufficient. Then the top and bottom of the completed winding are heat-sealed in two places by a semicontinuous heat seal extending at right angles to the direction of the winding. The heat-sealed cover is removed from the jig and is applied to the chair frame by placing looped strands of the edges of the cover alternately above and below the frame tubes of the chair. Two wiretype rods are used to attach these strands to the two opposed frame tubes. These rods may be of different types described in detail hereinafter.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention, a separately made replacement cover is securely attached to an existing chair frame with the necessity of taking the chair frame apart and without the use of complicated tools and procedures, so that the attachment can be carried out by persons with limited mechanical skills.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, showing, by way of example only, preferred embodiments of the inventive idea.

IN THE DRAWING:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a jig carrying the replacement cover;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view showing the manner of attaching the replacement cover to a chair frame;

FIG. 3 is similar to FlG. 2 but shows the replacement'cover when the attachment is completed;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a loop-applying rod used jointly with the rodshown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side view of another rod;

FIG. 6 is a side view of yet another rod.

FIG. 1 shows a collapsible jig 10 the size of which is essentially that of the chair frame for which the replacement cover is intended. Vinyl elastic tubing ll is wound around thejig 10 to form a replacement cover 12. The vinyl tubing is of the type and size which are now in general use in the making of covers for outdoor chairs. About 20 windings of the tubing 11 are usually sufficient to provide the cover 12.

When the winding is completed, the topand bottom portions of the tubing are heat sealed at two places 13 and 14.

The heat seals extend at right angles to the direction of the winding. The location of the heat seals is such that the wrapped tubing is divided into approximately equal thirds. Thus the seals 13 and 14 are spaced from each other to the extent of about one third of the width of the cover.

Then the cover 12 is removed from the jig 10 and'is applied to a chair frame 15 in a manner shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

It should be noted that end portions of the cover consist of parallel loops. These loop portions of the replacement cover are placed near the tubes 16 and 25 of the chair frame 15.

In the example illustrated, one loop portion of the cover has been applied already to the tube 25 while the other portion is in the process of being applied to the tube 16.

In applying the loop portions, a wire rod 19 may be used consisting of straight thin and pliable wire and having a right angle bent 20 to serve as a temporary handle during application. The rod 19 may be about 20 inches in length.

To start with, one vinyl tube strand 17 is placed over the frame tube 16 while the second tube strand 18 is placed underneath the frame tube 16. Thereupon the wire rod 19 is inserted into the loop end of the first tube strand 17 and then is inserted into the second tube strand 18, thereby locking the two tube strands 17 and 18 around the chair frame tube 16. The L-shaped handle 20 facilitates the maneuvering of the rod during insertion. After the wire rod 19 has been inserted into the second tube strand 18, it is pushed .out further to extend beyond the second tube strand 18 about 2 inches, just enough in order'to slip the third tube strand 21 onto it. The third tube strand 21 is then placed over the frame tube 16. Then the wire rod 19 is again pushed forward to the extent of another 2 inches beyond the third tube strand 21 to accommodate the fourth strand 22 which is placed under the frame tube 16 and is again hooked onto the wire rod 19. This procedure is continued with the fifth strand 23 being placed over the frame tube 16 and the next strand being placed under the frame tube 16, until all the remaining strands are locked around the frame tube 16 as the result of the wire rod 19 being pushed through all of the strands.

When the replacement cover has been attached on both sides, all projecting ends of the wire rods 19 are bent over and reinserted into the vinyl tubing. This secures the wire rods, prevents them from shifting, avoids projecting sharp wire ends, and provides a smooth and safe finish.

It should be noted, however, that, when one loop portion of the cover has been applied to one tube, the attachment of the other loop portion to the opposite side of the frame involves the difficulty that the strands are tight and must be stretched to the extent of about one-half of an inch to meet the inserting rod.

It was, therefore, found advisable to use one of the differently shaped rods for the attachment of the second side.

FIG. 4 shows a straight rod 27 having inch diameter and about 8 inches long with a ridge 28 on one end to be used only as a tool to stretch the vinyl strands during application. This rod is used along with the rod 19. The rod 27 makes it possible to pull over the vinyl tubing to meet the rod 19.

FIG. 5 shows a rod 30 which may be used as a substitute for the rod 27. The rod 30 is rigid, having a diameter of about is of an inch and about 20 inches in length. The rod 30 has a right-angle U-shaped bend 33 on one end which serves a handle gripduring installation. The other end 31 of this rod has an inclined bend 32 which acts as a tool to stretch the vinyl strand into position during installation.

The rod 30 is used in the followingmanner:

After the first two strands have been inserted through the rod and the third strand is ready to be inserted, the inclined end 31 is turned toward the third strand and receives it with a minimum of stretching. Then the rod is pushed forward to the extent of about one inch and at the same time the handle 33 is turned in a direction away from the third strand, so that the strand is somewhat stretched and slides down the inclined portion 32 to the main part of the rod, joining the first two strands in their final positions. This procedure is repeated with all the strands. When all strands are in place, the hook-shaped handle 32 is slipped over a bottom part of the tubing of the chair frame. Then this end of the rod is out of sight and it provides better support when the chair is being used. The opposite end 31 of the rod is placed under a hinge of the chair for the same purpose.

Another rod 40 used for the same purpose is shown in FIG. 6. The rod 40 consists of a straight portion 41, end hooks 42 and intermediate hooks 43.

In operation, the rod 40 is inserted through all the strands with the exception of the second, th, th and th strands. When the strands have been inserted, the rod is placed over the chair frame. Then the loose strands are brought under and around the chair tube to meet and to be looped onto the extended rod hooks.

Separate replacement covers are applied to the seat of a chair and to its back in the described manner.

The described process of attaching the replacement covers can be carried out easily and quickly by entirely unskilled persons and it will connect the replacement covers firmly and securely to the chair frame. A chair with the replacement covers which were thus attached will last as long, and possibly longer, than a new chair.

What I claim is:

1. An outdoor chair having a replacement cover comprising a plurality of windings of vinyl tubing, said windings being of the same size and located one next to the other, and transverse heat seals interconnecting said windings, said chair having at least two parallel tubes, said cover having edges consisting of parallel strands and located adjacent said tubes, the strands of an edge located adjacent to any one of said tubes extending alternately above and below that one tube, and two wire rods,

each of said wire rods being located adjacent a separate tube, extending through said strands and locking the strands around that tube.

2. A chair in accordance with claim 1, wherein the ends of said wire rods are bent and located. inside adjacent strands of the cover.

3. A chair in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of said wire rods comprises a straight portion and a bent handle constituting an end of said straight portion.

4. A chair in accordance with claim ll, wherein at least one of said wire rods comprises a straight portion, a hooked handle constituting one end of said straight portion, and an L-shaped portion with an inclined part constituting the other end of said straight portion.

5. A chair in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of said wire rods comprises a straight portion, hooks on opposite ends of said straight portion and hooks located upon said straight portion.

6. The method of attaching a replacement cover to a frame of a chair, said chair having at least two parallel tubes, said cover consisting of a plurality of joined windings of vinyl tubing having opposed edges consisting of parallel strands, said method comprising placing an edge of the cover adjacent one of said tubes, placing one of said strands above that tube, plac ing the adjacent strand below that tube, inserting a wire rod through the two strands and locking the two strands to that tube, continuing the same steps with all strands of said edge and repeating the same steps with the strands of the other edge of the cover, the other tube of the frame and another wire rod, whereby the two wire rods firmly attach the strands of both edges of the cover to the two tubes of the frame. 

1. An outdoor chair having a replacement cover comprising a plurality of windings of vinyl tubing, said windings being of the same size and located one next to the other, and transverse heat seals interconnecting said windings, said chair having at least two parallel tubes, said cover having edges consisting of parallel strands and located adjacent said tubes, the strands of an edge located adjacent to any one of said tubes extending alternately above and below that one tube, and two wire rods, each of said wire rods being located adjacent a separate tube, extending through said strands and locking the strands around that tube.
 2. A chair in accordance with claim 1, wherein the ends of said wire rods are bent and located inside adjacent strands of the cover.
 3. A chair in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of said wire rods comprises a straight portion and a bent handle constituting an end of said straight portion.
 4. A chair in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of said wire rods comprises a straight portion, a hooked handle constituting one end of said straight portion, and an L-shaped portion with an inclined part constituting the other end of said straight portion.
 5. A chair in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of said wire rods comprises a straight portion, hooks on opposite ends of said straight portion and hooks located upon said straight portion.
 6. The method of attaching a replacement cover to a frame of a chair, said chair having at least two parallel tubes, said cover consisting of a plurality of joined windings of vinyl tubing having opposed edges consisting of parallel strands, said method comprising placing an edge of the cover adjacent one of said tubes, placing one of said strands above that tube, placing the adjacent strand below that tube, inserting a wire rod through the two strands and locking the two strands to that tube, continuing the same steps with all strands of said edge and repeating the same steps with the strands of the other edge of the cover, the other tube of the frame and another wire rod, whereby the two wire rods firmly attach the strands of both edges of the cover to the two tubes of the frame. 